Method and apparatus for installing concrete piles

ABSTRACT

The invention disclosed herein relates to an improved method and apparatus for forming and installing concrete piles. The apparatus utilized includes a mobile hopper for feeding fill material into the void that is formed in the ground; a quick release adapter for connecting the pile driving hammer with an intermediate pusher element which in turn engages a plow point; a plow point pusher adapter which is positioned at the lower portion of the intermediate pusher element which allows a given pusher to be used with various selected adapters and plow points and further includes provisions for the installation of reinforcing rods into the pile that is formed; a break-off plate which is positioned in a poured pile to form a break-off plane at the desired level in the upper extremity of the pile; and an intermediate pusher having a cross-section which will afford sufficient void area for the introduction of the fill material thereabout while minimizing its void engaging surfaces.

States Patent 1191 Dec. 3, 1974 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR INSTALLING CONCRETE PILES [76] Inventor: Jerry A. Steding, 4605 Meadow Valley Dr. NE, Atlanta, Ga. 30342 [22] Filed: Nov. 29, 1972 {21] Appl. No.: 310,465

Related US. Application Data [63] Continuation-impart of Ser. No. 244,! I8, April 14,

[52] US. Cl 61/53.5 2, 6l/53.64, 61/56, 6l/63, 222/154, 249/10 [5l]' Int. Cl E02d 5/34, E02d l3/04 [58] Field of Search 6l/ll, 13, 35, 36, 53.5, 6l/53.52, 53.62, 53.64, 53.66, 63, 537; 264/31; 249/10; 222/154, 158

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 12/1885 Derby 222/154 7/l935 Takechi.. 2/l939 Newman.....

2,555,951 6/1951 Allard, 3,638,433 '2/1972 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 170,183 l/l960 Sweden, .61/537 Sherrard ..'61/53.5

4l0,280 I 5/l934 Great Britain; 6l/53.64

Primary Examiner-Jacob Shapiro Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Newton, Hopkins & Ormsby [5 7 ABSTRACT The invention disclosed herein relates to an improved method and apparatus for forming and installing concrete piles. The apparatus utilized includes a mobile hopper for feeding fill material into the void that is formed in the ground; a quick release adapter for connecting the pile driving hammer with an intermediate pusher element which in turn engages a plow point; a plow point pusher adapter which is positioned at the lower portion of the intermediate pusher element which allows a given pusher to be used with various selected adapters and plow points and further includes 1 provisions forithe installation of reinforcing rods into the pile that is formed; a break-off plate which is positioned in a poured pile to form a break-off plane at the desired level in the upper extremity of the pile; and an intermediate pusher having a cross-section which will afford sufficient void area for the introduction of the fill material thereabout while minimizing its void engaging surfaces.

32 Claims, 44 Drawing Figures PMENIL; sic 3 i974 METHOD AND APPARATUS F OR INSTALLING CONCRETE PILES CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This application is a continuation-in-part of my U.S. application Ser. No. 244,118, filed Apr. 14, 1972, for a METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR INSTALLING CONCRETE PILES.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In recent years there has been increased activity in the field relating to the formation of concrete piles. The recent patent to Menard, U.S. Pat. No. 3,254,492, issued June 7, 1966, discloses the construction of concrete castings wherein a nose piece is driven into the ground to form a void by a separate driving element that is subjected to the driving force of a pile driver hammer. I

The patents to Muller, U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,512,365 and 3,540,225, further disclose the formation of concrete piles wherein a cementious material is introduced into the void or cavity under pressure through feed pipes.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,638,433 which issued to Sherrard on Feb. 1, I972, disclosed a pusher element having a cross-sectional area that allows for the introduction of fill material thereabout; however, the configurations are such that they present substantial void engaging surfaces.

The early U.S. Pat. to Takechi, namely, U.S. Pat. No.

2,008,521, discloses the use of a hopper element in the formation of a concrete pile.

- I None of the above patents disclose the novel features of the present application which includes a mobile hopper, a quick release drive head adapter, a plow point pusher adapter, a break-off plate for positioning at the is to be formed. Then the fill material may be introduced into the hopper prior to forming the pile. The mobile hopper may be a wheeled vehicle that can receive the fill material at a remote location and then be transported to the site where the pile is to be formed. Each type of hopper includes a gate for selectively controlling the flow of fill material as well as means for sealably engaging the ground surface around the pile area and for directing the fill material into the void that is formed. The hopper employed further includes means for selectively moving the gate between opened and closed positions as well as establishing the sealing engagement between the hopper and the ground surface.

The quick release drive head adapter provides an arrangement whereby the pile driver and the pusher element may be readily coupled in a manner-which will prevent the locking means that is utilized from being jammed due to distortion which would result by the driving forces which are transmitted by the drive hammer. This arrangement utilizes aligned apertures. The apertures formed in one of the members are of a size to effect a snug fit about the locking member. The aperture of the other member is of an oval configuration which allows clearance about the locking member so that none of the driving force is transmitted to the locking pin per se.

The drive head adapter is connected to the drive hammer (not shown) in a conventional manner.

The plow point pusher adapter is selectively positioned at the lower portion of the pusher element and permits the use of various size plow points with a given pusher. The lower extremity of the plow point pusher adapter may be provided with means for gripping reinforcing rods which can be introduced into the pile that desired height'of a poured colummapusher having a cross-sectional configuration which allows a maximum areafor introduction of fill material ther'eab'out while minimizing its void engaging'surfaces, and means for introducing reinforcing steel simultaneously with the introduction of the fill material by. gravity. I

I SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to improved apparatus and method for forming and installing concrete piles. The apparatus includes a mobile hopper which selectively controls the flow of fill material, provides sealing engagement between the hopper and the ground, permits the cavity forming equipment to be driven into the earths surface through the hopper and provides a means for properly locating and aligning the plow point for its introduction into the ground; a quick release drive head adapter; a plow point pusher adapter; a break-off plate; and a pusher having a cross-sectional configuration which affords maximum area for the introduction of fill material thereabout, while minimizing its void engaging surfaces. The present invention further provides means for introducing reinforcing steel into the cavity that is formed simultaneously with the is being formed. Also these reinforcing rods may be connected to the plow point perse. The pusher element that is utilized herein shows the depthto which it is driven into the ground. After reaching the desired penetration depth, it is sometimes desiredthat the column be terminated at a given height below the ground level. This can be readily effected by the introduction of a break-off plate into the poured fill material at the desired height where a break-off plane is. to be formed so that the surplus fill material, when hardened, may be readily removed from the top of the formed pile.

The pusher employed is of a cross-sectional area which provides maximum void area thereabout for the introduction of fill material while minimizing its void contacting surfaces. One desirable form of the pusher element has an +-shaped, cross-sectional configuration made up of four angles which are welded together along the respective adjoining edges and intermittently or continuously along the length thereof. Furthermore, another form of the pusher element that may be utilized is readily formed by cutting an l-I-beam longitudi- BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES OF DRAWINGS FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 55 in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a side elevational cross-sectional view of the fill hopper as shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a perspective cut-away cross-sectional view of a portion of the hopper shown in FIG. 6;

' FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional elevational view of an alternate hopper wherein the hopper is a wheeled vehicle;

FIG. 9 is a cut-away perspective view of the hopper as shown in FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a side elevational view in partial crosssection of an alternative embodiment of a pusher;

FIG. 11 is a side elevational view in partial crosssection of an alternative embodiment of the plow point pusherarrangement showing means therein for securing reinforcing rods thereto;

FIG. 12 is a side elevational view in partial crosssection of a further alternative embodiment of a pusher element;

FIG. 13 is a top plan cross-sectional view taken along line 13-13 in FIG. 10;

FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view taken along the lines 14I4 in'FIG. 11;

FIG. 15 is'a cross-sectional view taken along line 15 15 in FIG. 12; 2

FIGS. l6, l7 and 18 are schematic cross-sectional elevational views showing the steps of installing short length reinforcing steel;

FIG. 19 is a further alternative embodiment of a hopper arrangement showing as a cross-sectional eleva- FIG. 29 is a perspective view of an alternate pile pusher having apertures formed into its walls;

FIGS. 30-33 are schematic side elevational crosssectional views showing the sequential steps of forming a pile which includes a casing;

FIGS. 34-37 are schematic side elevational crosssectional views showing the sequential steps of forming a pile in the earths surface which is of a consistency that tends to migrate into the cavity that is formed and where the preformed cavity is of a larger diameter than the plow point;

FIG. 38 is a side elevational view showing the crosssection of a pusher and plow point used in the steps shown in FIGS. 34-37;

FIG. 39 is a top plan sectional view taken along the lines 3 939;

FIG. 40 is a partial cross-sectional view showing the method by which the pusher is disengaged from the plow point; and

FIGS. 41-44 are schematic side elevational crosssectional views showing the sequential steps of forming a pile in the earths'surface which tend to migrate into the cavity that is formed and where the preformed cavity is of a smaller diameter than the plow point.

DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS Referring to FIG. 1, which is an exploded perspective view, there is one embodiment of the novel apparatus that is utilized to install a concrete pile. The drive head adapter 1 is provided with an aperture 2 to receive a locking pin 3 which, when connected, is aligned with an enlarged aperture 4 formed at the upper portion of the tional view of means for introducing spooled reinforcing material;

FIG. 20 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 20-20 in FIG. 19.

FIG. 21 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 2l2 l in FIG. 19;

FIG. 22 is an exploded perspective view of a breakoff plate positioned forwardly of the lower portion of a pusher element;

FIGS. 23, 24 and 25 are schematic cross-sectional elevational views showing the installation of a break-off plate;

FIG. 26 is a cross-sectional view of a pusher formed by welding cut portions of an H-beam;

FIG. 27 is a cross-sectional view of a pusher formed having an +-shaped cross-sectional configuration made up of four angles which are welded together along the respective adjoining edges and intermittently or continuously along the length thereof.

FIG. 28 is an exploded perspective view of the further embodiment of the apparatus utilized to form and install a pile;

The top of the pusher 5 is provided with four triangular-shaped plates or filler blocks 6. These plates 6 reinforce and present an abutting surface for the pusher 5 and also provide a solid mass-surrounding theaperture 4. It will be noted that the aperture 4 is an elongated slot so'as to prevent any stress from being transmitted to the locking pin 3 during the driving movement of the pile hammer (not shown). This prevents binding of the' locking pin 3.with the aperture 4 on thepusher 5 and aperture 2 of the drive head adapter and allows easy disengagement. The locking pin 3 is provided with cotter pins 7 to secure it in locked position during driving operation. It will also be seen that a chain 8 is provided on the upper portion of the pusher 5 which is loosely attached about the periphery of pusher 5 and with both ends of the chain 8 being welded at one point 8' on the pusher. The chain 8 is provided to hold pieces of reinforcing steel 10 adjacent the pusher when so desired. It will also be noted that a vibrator 9 may be placed at a selected point on the pusher 5 to cause a vibration of the pusher 5 during its extraction from the poured concrete pile and in this way facilitate a more compact and uniform feeding of the fill material into the area left when the pusher 5 is extracted. A similar effect can be achieved by placing a vibrator on the fill hopper 20 and employing a vibratorless pusher, and furthermore, vibrators could be provided on both the pusher 5 and the hopper 20 to work in unison. Also provided along the length of the pusher 5 is indicia 55 to indicate during installation of a pile the depth of the plow point 42 and thereby provides a measuring means for determining the depth of a given pile. Also, depth may be measured by simply using a predetermined length for the pusher 5 which then does not require any indicia. Also it will 34, the pipe can be raised to shut off the flow of fill mabe seen that there is an aperture 11 provided adjacent the lower end of the pusher 5 which is suited to receive a coupling (not shown) which is connected to a harness (not shown). The harness may be attached to hooks 12 As seen in FIG. 4, the plow point pusher adaptor 16 i has a plurality of side walls 13 to engage firmly the wall 14 of plow point 42. The plow point pusher adaptor 16 is provided with notches or cut-outs at its bottom pushing plate 17 so that pieces of reinforcing steel 10 can be hooked under the plow point pusher adaptor 16 and driven down into the pile along with the fill material while enabling the pusher 5 to be extracted and disengaged from the reinforcing steel as shown in FIG. 10. The top and bottom edge of the plow point pusher adaptor 16 has rounded corners to facilitate easy insertion into and removal from the plow point 42 as shown in FIG. 1. The pusher 5 drives the plow point 42 down through the fill hopper 20 which will be discussed later in more detail. The fill hopper 20 consists of four vertical sides 21 with four adjacent inclined sides 22 which form sloping walls for the fill material to be fed through aperture 26 provided within the fill hopper 20. The fill hopper 20 is provided with suitable structure 23 to enable it to be firmly positioned on the pile site.

As shown in FIG. 6, the fill hopper 20 is provided with two telescoping cylindrical pipes 24 and 25. The inner pipe 25 is fixed to the bottom surface of the fill hopper 20 and is provided with a plurality of apertures 26 to let the fill material to; flow therethrough and into the cavity created bythe driving of the plow point 42 into the soil. By raising and lowering the outer pipe 24 by means of handles 28 movi ng along inclined ramps 29, the flow of the fill material is thereby selectively controlled. Wh'en pipe 24 is raised, it allows passage of the fill material through apertures 26. Since outer pipe 24 has no apertures, when it is lowered down the inclined ramp 29 it thereby cuts off the flow of the'fill material into the pile cavity. Hopper 20 also is provided with four angled members 30 which are attached to the bottom of the fillhopper and'which bitefinto the soil and form a sealing engagement to preventflow of the fill material from seeping out of the bottom of thefill hopper onto the soil surface. I

The embodiment of a fill hopper 20, shown in FIGS. 1, 6 and 7, would be employed where trucks can drive the fill material to location of the pile to be formed and dump it into the hopper 20 or where fill material can be pumped to the location and into the hopper 20 orv where fill material can be swung by crane and bucket to said location or where fill hopper may be filled and lifted or carried to pile location. When none of these above methods are feasible, the'hopper shown in FIG. 8 may be employed.

In FIG. 8, the fill hopper 20' is provided with side walls 21' and inwardly sloped walls 22' which are connected to an upstanding pipe 31 which is fixed to the bottom of the fill hopper 20'. Upstanding pipe 31 is provided with a plurality of apertures 32 about. its periphery which may be selectively aligned with apertures 33' in a telescoping pipe 34 of smaller diameter. than pipe 31. In this embodiment, the inner pipe 34 acts as the gate valve to turn off or on the flow of fill material into the pile cavity and by virtueof inclined ramps 35 cooperating with handles 36 provided at the top of pipe terial or lowered to a position where apertures 33 and 32 will coincide with each other and thus initiate a flow of fill material into the pile cavity. A length of nonapertured pipe 37 is provided at the bottom of pipe 34 and this pipe portion provides a chute within which the fill material can flow into the pile cavity. It also provides a short length of pipe to be pushed into the soil and thereby provides a seal to prevent fill material from running out onto the ground surface instead of going I 7 into the pile cavity. This same section of non-apertured pipe 37, when the inner pipe 34 is raised, acts as a seal to block the flow of fill material through apertures 32 in the fixed outer pipe 31. There is an annular sealing ring 31' fixed to the bottom of the till hopper 20 which slidably abuts a peripheral outer surface of inner pipe 34 to prevent flow of fill material between the fill hopper 20 and the outside wall of pipe 34. Pipe 34 has an annular sealing ring 34' which is fixed at a point on its .outer walls so as to abut sealing ring 31 and accomplish a more complete sealing while at the same time acting as a stop for the downward descent of pipe 34 and to insure that apertures 32 and 33 coincide with each other to initiate the flow of fill material. The fill hopper 20' is provided with suitable structure 38 which provides an area to mount a set of wheels 39 to the fill hopper in order to transport it to the pile site. There is a handle 40 provided on the fill hopper which presents a means for the hopper to be pushed or pulled to the pile site. e

As seen in FIG. 9, the fill hopper 20, isshown with the outer pipe 31 and inner pipe 34 in a closed position which would thus prevent fiowof material into the pile cavity, i

Shown in FIG. 10 is an alternate embodiment of pusher 5" provided with cut-outs or notches 15 on its bottom pushing surface 18 which will enable reinforcing steel 10 to be introduced into the pile cavitylwhile allowing the pusher 5" to be extracted leaving the steel 10 in place. This particular pusher 5' is provided with operation. This pusher has the top plan cross-section of a cross as shown in FIG. 13. The dash-dot lines'represent the area of fiow for the fill material which follows generally the cross-sectional area pushing plate 17 on the plow point 42 being driven by the plow point pusher.

Shown in FIG. 11 is an alternate plow point pusher 5" with the reinforcing steel 10 in this embodiment being attached through apertures 43 provided in the bottom pushing plate 17 of plow point 42. Reinforcing steel 10 is inserted through these apertures 43 and bent over to form a hook to thereby pull the reinforcing steel down in the pile cavity to be left there with the plow point 42 upon extraction of the pusher 5". This alternate plow point pusher has the top plan cross-sectional shape of a Y as shown in FIG. 14. Also the reinforcing steel 10 may be passed through apertures. 43 and welded in place.

Shown in FIG. 12 is yet another alternate plow point pusher 5"". In this embodiment, the plow point pusher 5"" is of an irregular cross-sectional area and consists of a flat plate portion 44 and two structural rib portions 45. The reinforcing steel 10 in this embodiment is spot welded to the inner surface of plow point 42. The top plan cross-section of this shape is shown in FIG. 15. While a number of ways for attaching the reinforcing steel have been described in relation to certain novel pushers and their plow points, it should be noted that these variations of pushers and plow points can be used in various combinations with each other.

FIGS. 16, 17 and 18 show how short lengths of reinforcing steel can be installed in a pile cavity that needs only a small portion of steel in its upper portion. This pusher is provided with projections 46 which engage an annular ring 47 positioned at the desired location on the pusher 5""' whereupon the pusher 5""' is driven down into the ground to a desired depth. Upon extraction of the plow point pusher 5"", the annular ring 47 and the reinforcing steel which is spot welded thereto are left at a desired intermediate depth within the confines of the filled pile cavity as shown in FIG. 17. FIG. 18 is the end result of the finished pile after extraction of the pusher 5"' with the reinforcing steel left at an intermediate point and includes a reinforcing cap portion 48 of sufficiently larger size than the pile. This steel cap 48 is left with the pile in order to prevent breakage of the exposed pile top by grading machines, orother potential hazards that would present a danger of breakage to the pile. This cap 48 can be smaller than pile diameter and inserted into pile to the depth required.

Shown in FIG. 19 is a fill hopper 20" which employs the unique gate valve as shown in FIG. 6, except that the dimensions of the two cooperating pipes that act as a flow valve are of sufficiently larger diameter in order to accommodate odd shapedplow point pushers. The fill hopper 20" is provided with two reel mechanisms 50. These reels 50 may be moved inwardly and a length of reinforcing material 51 may be attached to the plow point 42" by spot welding or other suitable means. When the plow point pusher 5 drives the plow point into the soil, the reinforcing material is fed down the pile cavity with the plow point until it reaches a desired depth, whereupon the reinforcing material is snipped from the reels 50 and left in place within the finished pile. After cutting the reinforcing material, the reels 50 would be movedback to their non-operative position, thereby allowing free extraction. of the plow point pusher 5. i i

FIGS. 20 and 21 show the plow point 42" in relation to the plow point pusher 5 and the relation at the plow point 42" with a screen-type reinforcing material 51.

On occasion, a pile might be overfilled with fill material over and above the desired grade level. When this occurs, it is possible to extract the pusher 5 from the pile while the fill material is still soft and secure a break-off plate 52 on the bottom portion of the pusher 5. Then the pusher 5 is pushed back down into the filled pile cavity to the desired final cast elevation 60. At this point, the pusher 5 is then extracted, leaving only the break-off plate 52 at the desired elevation in the pile, which is shown in FIGS. 22 through 25.

As seen in FIG. 22, there is a break-off plate 52 and i the bottom portion of a pusher 5. The break-off plate 52 is provided with cut-out areas 53 which allow the fill material to sift through these cut-outs 53 as it is pushed to the desired depth. The material from which the cutouts are formed consists of four flaps 54 which are bent up and frictionally engage the bottom 18 of the pusher 5. This break-off plate 52 is made of plastic, thin steel,

or other suitable material to form a weak joint or fracture plane in the concrete pile, thereby allowing the pile to be easily separated from the excess material at the elevation at which the break-off plate 52 is inserted.

FIGS. 23, 24 and 25 are schematic figures showing the steps of operation to install a break-off plate 52.

Shown in FIG. 26 is a pusher configuration that utilizes an I-l-beam which is cut longitudinally along its web into two sections; whereupon these sections are welded together with the flanges of each in abutting contact to form the top plan of-a cross.

Referring to FIG. 28, which is an exploded perspective view of a further form of apparatus necessary to install a plow, there is shown a drive head adapter 1 adapted to receive a plow point pusher by means of aligned apertures 2 and 6 in the drive head adapter 1' and the upper portion of the plow point pusher 100. The apertures, when in alignment with each other are suited to receive a dowel pin 3 that is fitted with cotter pins 7 to secure the dowel pin 3 during the driving operation. The plow point pusher 100 is of an H beam configuration and is provided longitudinally with indicia I to indicate the depth of the pile. This plow point 142 is suited to be driven through a complementary aperture of slightly larger diameter in the fill hopper 20". The fill hopper 20" embodied here is a round hopper with a cylindrical upstanding wall section which join with inwardly directed cone shaped walls 22". The conical walls 22" then join with a short cylindrical section 30' of sufficient length to provide a seal with the surface of the earth and prevent seepage of fillmaterial out to the soil surface. The hopper 20" is also provided with a suitable frame 23' to enable the hopper to sit firmly on the soil surface during the driving operation. The interior of the hopper is provided with indicia 255 to indicate the amount of fill material that has been transferred to the cavity. It may be by. volume or may be calibrated as to the units of length of pipe.

FIG. 29 is an alternate plow point pusher 101 which consists of a pipe provided with apertures 108 to allow the fill material to fill the inner cavity of the pipe during the driving operation. At the top of the pipe there is provided an aperture 104 to allow this plow point pusher to be fixed to a suitable driving head adapter by means 'of a dowel pin type arrangement as shown in FIG. 28.

In FIGS. 30-33 are embodied the steps necessary to install a pile which has a corrugated metal jacket I within the confines of the pile cavity. In FIG. 30 it will be seen that a fill hopper H is employed with a large aperture A so as to allow a plow point with an enlarged pusher plate P to be driven therethrough. The diameter of the pusher plate P is of course the diameter of the pile to be driven. The plow point pusher 100 presents a peripheral area on the top of the plate P whereby a corrugated metal pipe can rest. As the plow point 242 is driven down as seen in FIG. 31, the corrugated metal jacket .I is driven down with the plow point 242 and fill material flows into the space between the cavity left by the plow point and the outer walls of the corrugated metal jacket leaving as seen in FIG. 32 a pile which, at its bottom, has a point with an upstanding corrugated metal pipe left therein which is surrounded by fill material. This particular type pile is desirable in certain applications where it may be necessary for the pile to be inspected. After inspection the inner cavity of the corrugated metal pipe can then be filled to complete the pile.

FIGS. 34 through 37 are the steps necessary to install a pile where it might be necessary to establish the pile .bottom on solid rock or rock strata. The first step necessary as seen in FIG. 34 is to drill a hole, the bottom of which would be as close to the desired rock strata as possible. Next a fill hopper H is placed over the cavity and a plow point pusher with a plow point attached thereto of the type which will be discussed in more detail in connection with FIGS. 38-40, is dropped through the fill hopper to the bottom of the excavated hole and the plow point 342 is then driven further to a depth to establish a solid base as closely adjacent the rock as possible. Then the pusher 360 is extracted and the hopper lll' taken away leaving'a suitable pile as shown in FIG. 37.

As mentioned previously, it will be seen that when lowering a plow point pusher with a plow point of a size smaller than the hole in which it is lowered, that the plow point would disengage itself from the pusher and drop off into the cavity by gravity. To overcome this problem, there is embodied in FIGS. 38-40 a structure to retain the plow point 342 to the pusher 300 in the initial stage of lowering it into an enlarged cavity. This consists of a pusher v300 having at its lower end an aperture 310 which when placed in the upper walls of a plow point would be in alignment with a pair of apertures 320 in the said walls of the plow point 342. When so aligned, a small dowel pin 330 is placed therein which engages the plow point to the pusher. After the pile has been completed, and the'fill material is within the confines of the cavity, the pusher can then be extracted from the plow point since the weight of the'fill material on-the plow point will be sufficient to secure itin place during this extraction, and as seen in FIG. 40, the dowel pin used to secure the two members during installation is s'implybent out of engagement with the plow point. i r

There are certain types of soil such as clay, for instance that tend not to consolidate, which is to say that they are of a'compaction which tends to migrate into the cavity being formed. Where soils do not want to consolidate the pile can usually be-driven into the soil but the'cavity created bythe plow point pushing plate will tend to close up and thereby pinch or restrict the fill material causing undesirable weak points in the pile. FIGS. 41-44 show diagramatically a method of installing a pile in these nonconsolidating soils. A shown in FIG. 41 the first step is to drill a hole in the soil at the desired pile location similar to that shown in FIGS. 34-37, except the diameter of the drilled hole is smaller than the diameter of the plow point plate. After the hole is drilled a fill hopper H' is placed over the hole and a plow point 442 is driven therethrough via a plow point pusher 400 as shown in FIGS. 42 and 43. The excavation of the excess soil need be only enough to provide access for the plow point to consolidate the remaining soil within a pile hole under the pressure of the pusher whereby when the plow point pusher is extracted a clean pile will be established as seen in FIG. 44. The foregoing method and apparatus in addition to forming piles may be employed in the installation of sand drains, well points and the introduction into the earth of liquids or solids for soil stabilization.

It is also recognized that a dewatering device such as normally used in well point systems can be attached to the plow pusher if the installation is for the purpose of dewatering.

It is further recognized that piles of considerable length can be formed by utilizing an elongated plow point which can be of the length of approximately onehalf the length of the elongated pile. This type of plow pusher can be left in the ground. The plow point pusher utilized in conjunction with such an' elongated pile is' of a construction that provides a shoulder intermediate its length for abutting contact with the rear of the plow pusher.

I claim: 1. Apparatus for use with a pile driving hammer for forming in the earths surface a support column, such as a pile, of a fill material that may be introduced into the column cavity in a fluid condition and which becomes solid upon curing comprising:

a. a plow point adapted to be'driven into the ground to a desired depth; I

b. a pusher adapted for releasably engaging the plow point and for transmitting the driving force of the pile driving hammer to the plow point, said pusher including a plurality of longitudinally extending rib sections which form a cross-sectional configuration that affords a maximum void area for the introduction of fill material thereabout while minimizing the cavity engaging peripheral surfaces; and

c. a mobile hopper disposed to surround said pusher at the upper end of the column cavity and including means to selectively control the flow of fill material into the column cavity.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 and further characterized in that a plow point pusher adapter is removably secured at the forward portion of said pusher for effecting'a tight frictional engagement with said plow Point.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 2 further characterized in that the upper and lower corners of said plow point pusher adapter are rounded to facilitate easy insertion into-and removal .from said plow point. I

'4.Apparatus as defined in claim 1 and further characterized by means for'attaching reinforcing steel for introduction into said column cavity.

5. Apparatus as defined in claim 4 and further'characterized in that said means for attaching said reinforcing steel is provided in said plow point.

6. Apparatus as defined in claim 4 and further characterized in that said means for attaching said reinforcing steel is provided at the lower portion of the pusher.

9. Apparatus as defined in claim 4 and further characterized in that said means for attaching said reinforcing steel is by welding said steel to said plow point.

10. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 further and further characterized in that the upper portion of said pusher is provided with a quick release drive head adapter including a locking means for releasably securing said drive head adapter to said pusher.

11. Apparatus as defined in claim and further characterized in that said locking means includes a locking pin and aligned apertures; one aperture being formed in the adapter head and the other aperture being formed in said pusher, one of said apertures being of a size to telescopically receive said locking pin and other of said apertures being of a size to clear any engagement with said locking pin.

12. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 and further characterized by means for effecting sealing engagement between the hopper and the ground surface about the I periphery of the pile.

13. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 further characterized in that said hopper includes scale means calibrated for indicating the quantity of fill material in said cavity.

14. Apparatus as defined in claim 13 further characterized in that said pusher member includes scale means for indicating the quantity of fill material required to fill a bore opening formed by said plow point means, with said scale indicating means being graduated to indicate the amount of fill material at increments of penetration of said plow point means within the earths surface.

15. A method of forming in the earths surface a support column, such as a pile, of a fill material that may be introduced into the column cavity in a fluid condition and which becomes solid after curing including the steps of:

a. forming a cavity of selected size and depth in the earth's surface;

b. selectively introducing a predetermined volume of fill material into said cavity by gravity; and

c. forming a fracture plane at a selected elevation in the upper extremity of the column by the introduction of a break-off plate at the selected elevation.

16. The method of forming in the earths surface a support column, such as a pile of a fill material that may be introduced into the'column cavity in a fluid condition and-which becomes solid after curing including the steps of:

a. locating a fill hopper at a selected location on the earth's surface where a column is to be formed;

b. placing a plow point within the fill hopper;

c. placing an intermediate pusher in releasable engagement with the plow point;

d. filling the hopper with a quantity of fill material;

e. forming a cavity of selected size and depth in the earth's surface by transmitting a driving force to the plow point through said pusher within the confines of said fill hopper;

f. selectively introducing said filling material into said cavity by gravity; and

g. removing said pusher from said fill material. said pusher occupying substantially less cross sectional area than the cross sectional area of said cavity being formed, and said pusher being of a tubular construction having a plurality of radial openings formed therein which will permit said fill material to be transferred between locations outwardly of said pusher and locations inwardly of said pusher during the progressive filling of said cavity from the top downward in response to formation of said cavity by movement of said plow point,

said fill hopper having a bottom opening sized to approximate the maximum cross sectional area of said plow point and having walls in the lower region of said fill hopper that converge in downwardly sloping relation to locations immediately adjacent said bottom opening to guide the fill material along the downwardly sloping walls to said bottom openmg.

17. A method as defined in claim 16, wherein said quantity of fill material is calculated to include a predetermined amount equal at least to the amount required to fill the column cavity being formed.

18. A method as defined in claim 16, wherein said fill hopper includes a graduated scale operable for progressively indicating the amount of fill material transferred into a column cavity being formed.

19. A method as defined in claim 17, wherein said fill hopper includes a graduated scale operable for progressively indicating the amount of fill material transferred into a cavity being formed.

20. The method of forming in the earths surface a support column, such as a pile, of a fill material that may be introduced in a fluid condition into a column cavity to form said support column and which becomes solid after curing, including the steps of:

a. locating a fill hopper and a plow point in a contiguous vertically alined relation along a vertical axis at a selected location on the earth's surface where a support column is to be formed;

b. placing a vertically elongated intermediate pusher in releasable engagement with the plow point with the pusher extending upwardly through the fill hopper along said vertical axis;

c. filling the hopperwith a quantity of fill material adequate to form the support column;

d. forming a cavity of selected size and depth in the earths surface by transmitting a driving force through said pusher extending through the fill hopper to the plow point to drive the plow point into the earth;

e. selectively introducing said fill material into said cavity from said fill hopper by' gravity; and

f. removing said pusher from said fill material within the cavity;

g. said pusher being in the form of an axially elongated hollow tube wherein the tube wall surrounding the hollow interior thereof has a plurality of radial openings formed therein which permit said fill material to be transferred between locations outwardly of said pusher and locations inwardly of said pusher within the hollow interior thereof during the progressive filling of said cavity by movement of said plow point, said tube wall occupying substantially less cross sectional area than the cross sectional area of said cavity being formed.

21. A method as defined in claim 20, wherein said fill hopper includes means to selectively control the flow of fill material into the column cavity.

22. A method as defined in claim 21, wherein said means to selectively control the flow of fill material comprises first and second telescoping cylindrical concentric pipes, the first of said pipes having apertures therein for passage of fill material from the interior of the hopper into the column cavity being formed and said second pipe being axially adjustable relative to said first pipe to form a gate for varying the effective size of said apertures and for closing the apertures against pas- 1 sage of fill material therethrough.

the walls in the lower region of said fill hopper converge in downwardly sloping relation to locations immediately adjacent said bottom opening to guide the material along the downwardly sloping walls to said bottom opening.

24. Apparatus for use with a pile driving hammer for forming in the earths surface a support column, such as a pile, of a fill material that may be introduced in fluid condition into the column cavity being formed and which becomes solid upon curing, comprising:

a. a plow point adapted to be driven into the ground to a desired depth;

b. a pusher adapted for releasably engaging the plow point and for transmitting the driving force of the pile driving hammer to the plow point, said pusher being of axially elongated hollow tubular construction throughout its length havinga tube wall surrounding the hollow interior providing a cross sectional configuration that affords a large void area for the introduction of fill material while minimizing the cavity engaging surfaces, the tube wall having a plurality of radial openings formed therein which permit the fill material to be transferred between locations outwardly of the pusher and location'sinwardly of the pusher'within the hollow interior during progressive filling of the cavity from the top downward in response to formation of the cavity by movement of the plow point; and

c. a mobile hopper disposed in surrounding relation with said pusher at the upper end of the column cavity having a bottom opening sized to correspond substantially to the maximum cross sectional area of said plow point and receive said pusher therethrough and said hopper having downwardly converging sloping walls in the lower region thereof converging to locations closely adjacent to the perimeter of said bottom'opening for guiding the fill material in said hopper along downwardly converging paths toward the vertical center axis of said opening. r

25. Apparatus as defined in claim 24, wherein said mobile hopper includes means to selectively control the flow of fill material into the column cavity.

26. Apparatus as defined in claim 25, wherein said means to selectively control the flow of fill material comprises first and second telescoping cylindrical concentric pipes, the first of said pipes having apertures therein for passage of fill material from the interior of the hopper into the column cavity being formed and said second pipe being axially adjustable relative to said first pipe to form a gatefor varying the effective size of said apertures and for closing the apertures against passage of fill material therethrough.

27. Apparatus for use with a pile driving hammer for forming in the earths surface a supportcolumn, such as a pile, ofa fill material that may be introduced into point and for transmitting the driving force of the pile driving hammer to the plow point, said pusher being of a tubular construction having a plurality of radial openings formed therein which will permit said fill material to be transferred between locations outwardlyof said pusher and locations inwardly of said pusher, said pusher being of less cross sectional area than the cross sectional area of said cavity being formed thereby minimizing any cavity engaging peripheral surfaces;

. fill material supply means including a mobile hopper disposed to surround said pusher at the upper end of the column cavity and including means to selectively control the flow of fill material.

28. Apparatus as defined in claim 27 and further characterized by means for attaching reinforcing steel for introduction into said column cavity.

29. Apparatus as defined in claim 28 and further characterized in that said means for attaching said reinlocking pin and aligned apertures: one aperture being ment between the hopper and the ground surface'about formed in the adapter head and the other aperture being formed in said pusher, one of said apertures being of a size to telescopically receive said locking pin and other of said apertures being of a size to clear any engagement with said locking pin.

32. Apparatus as defined in claim 27 and further characterized by means for effecting sealing engagethe periphery of the pile. 

1. Apparatus for use with a pile driving hammer for forming in the earth''s surface a support column, such as a pile, of a fill material that may be introduced into the column cavity in a fluid condition and which becomes solid upon curing comprising: a. a plow point adapted to be driven into the ground to a desired depth; b. a pusher adapted for releasably engaging the plow point and for transmitting the driving force of the pile driving hammer to the plow point, said pusher including a plurality of longitudinally extending rib sections which form a crosssectional configuration that affords a maximum void area for the introduction of fill material thereabout while minimizing the cavity engaging peripheral surfaces; and c. a mobile hopper disposed to surround said pusher at the upper end of the column cavity and including means to selectively control the flow of fill material into the column cavity.
 1. Apparatus for use with a pile driving hammer for forming in the earth''s surface a support column, such as a pile, of a fill material that may be introduced into the column cavity in a fluid condition and which becomes solid upon curing comprising: a. a plow point adapted to be driven into the ground to a desired depth; b. a pusher adapted for releasably engaging the plow point and for transmitting the driving force of the pile driving hammer to the plow point, said pusher including a plurality of longitudinally extending rib sections which form a cross-sectional configuration that affords a maximum void area for the introduction of fill material thereabout while minimizing the cavity engaging peripheral surfaces; and c. a mobile hopper disposed to surround said pusher at the upper end of the column cavity and including means to selectively control the flow of fill material into the column cavity.
 2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 and further characterized in that a plow point pusher adapter is removably secured at the forward portion of said pusher for effecting a tight frictional engagement with said plow point.
 3. Apparatus as defined in claim 2 further characterized in that the upper and lower corners of said plow point pusher adapter are rounded to facilitate easy insertion into and removal from said plow point.
 4. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 and further characterized by means for attaching reinforcing steel for introduction into said column cavity.
 5. Apparatus as defined in claim 4 and further characterized in that said means for attaching said reinforcing steel is provided in said plow point.
 6. Apparatus as defined in claim 4 and further characterized in that said means for attaching said reinforcing steel is provided at the lower portion of the pusher.
 7. Apparatus as defined in claim 4 and further characterized in that a plow point pusher adapter is secured at the forward portion of said pusher and said means for attaching said reinforcing steel is provided at the lower portion of the plow point pusher adapter.
 8. Apparatus as defined in claim 4 and further characterized in that said means for attaching said reinforcing steel is provided about the periphery of the pusher.
 9. Apparatus as defined in claim 4 and further characterized in that said means for attaching said reinforcing steel is by welding said steel to said plow point.
 10. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 further and further characterized in that the upper portion of said pusher is provided with a quick release drive head adapter including a locking means for releasably securing said drive head adapter to said pusher.
 11. Apparatus as defined in claim 10 and further characterized in that said locking means includes a locking pin and aligned apertures; one aperture being formed in the adapter head and the other aperture being formed in said pusher, one of said apertures being of a size to telescopically receive said lockiNg pin and other of said apertures being of a size to clear any engagement with said locking pin.
 12. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 and further characterized by means for effecting sealing engagement between the hopper and the ground surface about the periphery of the pile.
 13. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 further characterized in that said hopper includes scale means calibrated for indicating the quantity of fill material in said cavity.
 14. Apparatus as defined in claim 13 further characterized in that said pusher member includes scale means for indicating the quantity of fill material required to fill a bore opening formed by said plow point means, with said scale indicating means being graduated to indicate the amount of fill material at increments of penetration of said plow point means within the earth''s surface.
 16. The method of forming in the earth''s surface a support column, such as a pile of a fill material that may be introduced into the column cavity in a fluid condition and which becomes solid after curing including the steps of: a. locating a fill hopper at a selected location on the earth''s surface where a column is to be formed; b. placing a plow point within the fill hopper; c. placing an intermediate pusher in releasable engagement with the plow point; d. filling the hopper with a quantity of fill material; e. forming a cavity of selected size and depth in the earth''s surface by transmitting a driving force to the plow point through said pusher within the confines of said fill hopper; f. selectively introducing said filling material into said cavity by gravity; and g. removing said pusher from said fill material, said pusher occupying substantially less cross sectional area than the cross sectional area of said cavity being formed, and said pusher being of a tubular construction having a plurality of radial openings formed therein which will permit said fill material to be transferred between locations outwardly of said pusher and locations inwardly of said pusher during the progressive filling of said cavity from the top downward in response to formation of said cavity by movement of said plow point, said fill hopper having a bottom opening sized to approximate the maximum cross sectional area of said plow point and having walls in the lower region of said fill hopper that converge in downwardly sloping relation to locations immediately adjacent said bottom opening to guide the fill material along the downwardly sloping walls to said bottom opening.
 17. A method as defined in claim 16, wherein said quantity of fill material is calculated to include a predetermined amount equal at least to the amount required to fill the column cavity being formed.
 18. A method as defined in claim 16, wherein said fill hopper includes a graduated scale operable for progressively indicating the amount of fill material transferred into a column cavity being formed.
 19. A method as defined in claim 17, wherein said fill hopper includes a graduated scale operable for progressively indicating the amount of fill material transferred into a cavity being formed.
 20. The method of forming in the earth''s surface a support column, such as a pile, of a fill material that may be introduced in a fluid condition into a column cavity to form said support column and which becomes solid after curing, including the steps of: a. locating a fill hopper and a plow point in a contiguous vertically alined relation along a vertical axis at a selected location on the earth''s surface where a support column is to be formed; b. placing a vertically elongated intermediate pusher in releasable engagement with the plow point with the pusher extending upwardly through the fill hopper along said vertical axis; c. filling the hopper with a quantity of fill material adequate to form the support column; d. forming a cavity of selected size and depth in the earth''s surface by transmitting a driving force through said pusher extending through the fill hopper to the plow point to drive the plow point into the earth; e. selectively introducing said fill material into said cavity from said fill hopper by gravity; and f. removing said pusher from said fill material within the cavity; g. said pusher being in the form of an axially elongated hollow tube wherein the tube wall surrounding the hollow interior thereof has a plurality of radial openings formed therein which permit said fill material to be transferred between locations outwardly of said pusher and locations inwardly of said pusher within the hollow interior thereof during the progressive filling of said cavity by movement of said plow point, said tube wall occupying substantially less cross sectional area than the cross sectional area of said cavity being formed.
 21. A method as defined in claim 20, wherein said fill hopper includes means to selectively control the flow of fill material into the column cavity.
 22. A method as defined in claim 21, wherein said means to selectively control the flow of fill material comprises first and second telescoping cylindrical concentric pipes, the first of said pipes having apertures therein for passage of fill material from the interior of the hopper into the column cavity being formed and said second pipe being axially adjustable relative to said first pipe to form a gate for varying the effective size of said apertures and for closing the apertures against passage of fill material therethrough.
 23. A method as defined in claim 20, wherein said fill hopper has a bottom opening sized to approximate the maximum cross sectional area of said plow point and the walls in the lower region of said fill hopper converge in downwardly sloping relation to locations immediately adjacent said bottom opening to guide the material along the downwardly sloping walls to said bottom opening.
 24. Apparatus for use with a pile driving hammer for forming in the earth''s surface a support column, such as a pile, of a fill material that may be introduced in fluid condition into the column cavity being formed and which becomes solid upon curing, comprising: a. a plow point adapted to be driven into the ground to a desired depth; b. a pusher adapted for releasably engaging the plow point and for transmitting the driving force of the pile driving hammer to the plow point, said pusher being of axially elongated hollow tubular construction throughout its length having a tube wall surrounding the hollow interior providing a cross sectional configuration that affords a large void area for the introduction of fill material while minimizing the cavity engaging surfaces, the tube wall having a plurality of radial openings formed therein which permit the fill material to be transferred between locations outwardly of the pusher and locations inwardly of the pusher within the hollow interior during progressive filling of the cavity from the top downward in response to formation of the cavity by movement of the plow point; and c. a mobile hopper disposed in surrounding relation with said pusher at the upper end of the column cavity having a bottom opening sized to correspond substantially to the maximum cross sectional area of said plow point and receive said pusher therethrough and said hopper having downwardly converging sloping walls in the lower region thereof converging to locationS closely adjacent to the perimeter of said bottom opening for guiding the fill material in said hopper along downwardly converging paths toward the vertical center axis of said opening.
 25. Apparatus as defined in claim 24, wherein said mobile hopper includes means to selectively control the flow of fill material into the column cavity.
 26. Apparatus as defined in claim 25, wherein said means to selectively control the flow of fill material comprises first and second telescoping cylindrical concentric pipes, the first of said pipes having apertures therein for passage of fill material from the interior of the hopper into the column cavity being formed and said second pipe being axially adjustable relative to said first pipe to form a gate for varying the effective size of said apertures and for closing the apertures against passage of fill material therethrough.
 27. Apparatus for use with a pile driving hammer for forming in the earth''s surface a support column, such as a pile, of a fill material that may be introduced into the column cavity in a fluid condition and which becomes solid upon curing comprising: a. a plow point adapted to be driven into the ground to a desired depth; b. a pusher adapted for releasably engaging the plow point and for transmitting the driving force of the pile driving hammer to the plow point, said pusher being of a tubular construction having a plurality of radial openings formed therein which will permit said fill material to be transferred between locations outwardly of said pusher and locations inwardly of said pusher, said pusher being of less cross sectional area than the cross sectional area of said cavity being formed thereby minimizing any cavity engaging peripheral surfaces; c. fill material supply means including a mobile hopper disposed to surround said pusher at the upper end of the column cavity and including means to selectively control the flow of fill material.
 28. Apparatus as defined in claim 27 and further characterized by means for attaching reinforcing steel for introduction into said column cavity.
 29. Apparatus as defined in claim 28 and further characterized in that said means for attaching said reinforcing steel is provided in said plow point.
 30. Apparatus as defined in claim 27 further and further characterized in that the upper portion of said pusher is provided with a quick release drive head adapter including a locking means for releasably securing said drive head adapter to said pusher.
 31. Apparatus as defined in claim 30 and further characterized in that said locking means includes a locking pin and aligned apertures: one aperture being formed in the adapter head and the other aperture being formed in said pusher, one of said apertures being of a size to telescopically receive said locking pin and other of said apertures being of a size to clear any engagement with said locking pin.
 32. Apparatus as defined in claim 27 and further characterized by means for effecting sealing engagement between the hopper and the ground surface about the periphery of the pile. 